The Alarming Link Between Fentanyl Exposure and Devastating Birth Defects in Newborns

A study published in Genetics in Medicine Open has found that at least 10 newborn babies, and possibly more, are suffering from birth defects related to fentanyl exposure in the womb. The babies have physical abnormalities such as cleft palate, small bodies and heads, drooping eyelids, upturned noses, undersized lower jaws, and inward-facing feet. Geneticists ruled out a genetic cause but found that all the babies had mothers who admitted to using street drugs, including fentanyl. The researchers suspect that fentanyl may be disrupting cholesterol metabolism during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Fentanyl has been linked to a significant increase in drug overdose deaths.